Kate Bull: The People's Supermarket

During the festive opening event of Re-Action!, Kate Bull, co-founder of The People’s Supermarket (UK), spoke about the importance of social innovation as a catalyst for sustainability.

The People's Supermarket (2010, UK)

For the people, by the people. That has been the vision of The People's Supermarket since its establishment in 2010. Its vision is to create a commercially sustainable, social enterprise that achieves its growth and profitability targets whilst operating within values based on community development and cohesion. The intent is to offer an alternative food buying network, by connecting an urban community with the local farming community.

The Supermarket is a sustainable food cooperative that responds to the needs of the local community and provides healthy, local food at reasonable prices. To this end, it believes in a series of key values, which guide its philosophy and management approach.

The People’s Supermarket has consciously been set up as a cooperation. Members pay an annual contribution and receive discount on their purchasings and a say in the Supermarket's policy. Unlike the other customers, members are expected to work in the shop, at least one half day per month. This year, The People’s Supermarket won the Ethical Award, granted by newspaper The Observer.